Born in Bismark, ND, John L. Wright had moved with his family to Hyattsville, MD, by 1920, where the family lived in a rented house on Baltimore Street. Ten years later, the family lived in Cincinnati, OH's Norwood Heights neighborhood, in a rented house at 3145 Auten Avenue. The rent on Auten was $65 per month. His father's work as an IRS agent caused the family to be shifted frequently. By 1935, the Wrights resided in Springfield, IL, and five years later, had moved to rental accommodations at 6863 South Cornell Avenue on Chicago's South Shore. Between 1994-1996, Wright resided at 10901 179th Ave NE, Redmond, WA, 98052.

Parents

His father was Ernest C. Wright (born c. 1891 in ND), his mother, Lois Barnes Wright (born c. 1891 in ND). They married c. 1913. In 1920. Lois managed the household, while Ernest worked as an auditor in the Internal Revenue Services. According to the 1920 US Census, Her parents both came from NY. His father was born in MO, and his mother, NY. This census indicated that John had a sister, Ruth E. Wright (born c. 1914 in ND). (See Ancestry,com, "1920 United States Federal Census for John L Wright," accessed 04/07/2015. Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Hyattsville Ward 1, Prince Georges, Maryland; Roll: T625_674; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 92; Image: 835.) In 1930, the Wright Household consisted of three more members: a son, Robert (born c.1921 in DC), a daughter, La Vere (born c. 1924 in DC), and Ernest's 82-year-old mother-in-law, Lavinia Barnes (born c. 1847 in NY). (See Amcestry.com, "1930 United States Federal Census for John Wright," Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio; Roll: 1811; Page: 22A; Enumeration District: 0140; Image: 239.0; FHL microfilm: 2341545.) Ernest's mother, Rose (born c. 1861 in NY), lived with John and his family in Chicago in 1940. (See "1940 United States Federal Census for John L Wright," Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T627_934; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 103-437.)

Spouse

Wright married in 1943.

Children

Surveyed in 1955, he reported having had three children.

Wright traveled for 2 1/2 years in South America. The Chicago architecture firm, Freedman, Altshuler, and Sincere, Architects, for whom Wright worked just after World War II, collaborated with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.